Selected races at Deauville 🇫🇷

Race 4 – PRIX DE RUGLES

SELECTION: LHOMMAIZE (Each Way) 10/1

Trained by Stephane Cerulis, LHOMMAIZE is yet to taste victory but clearly has ability and arrives in fair form. The handsome Dabirsim colt chased home ALTESSEROYALETAVEL on his first visit to Deauville in November and followed with another top 3 finish behind ZABIR and TIMBALLINA at Lyon La Soie later that month. Returned to Deauville the selection was dropped back to today’s trip but was plenty keen under Eddy Hardouin. Despite that he stayed on encouragingly in 6th behind DSCHINGIS GRACE and hopefully can settle better this time under the excellent Theo Bachelot.

Others worth considering include top-weights, CAPTAIN EAGLE and DAY OFF. The former took his strike-rate to 3-18 last month with a C&D victory while the latter ran well over track and trip on his penultimate start. Regular pilot, Rosario Mangione keeps faith with LADY LOU, a winner under the Italian at the 23rd attempt in November over C&D. Both DAY OFF and LADY LOU are interesting but winning doesn’t come easy with respective records of 1-25 and 1-24.

RACE 7 – PRIX DU PAYS D’OUCHE

KALEO PALACE (Each Way) 9/1

We conclude with a cracking Class 2, again over 2500M. Likely favourite, UZEL boasts an excellent 6-27 strike-rate and represents connections of my selection in Race 4. Stepping up to this distance last month proved no hindrance with the Hunter’s Light gelding flashing home for 3rd behind MARELIE. Behind him were the re-opposing, MONSIEUR XOO, FLATTEN THE CURVE, IDEAL KING, BLUES ROCK, LORENZO DE MEDICI and HOLLYWOOD AFRICANS. Of the sextet, LORENZO DE MEDICI and IDEAL KING may represent the biggest dangers, having been denied clear runs. The former won a claiming stakes race over C&D but ran a stormer a month later when second to Kozakenzipfel back in handicap company. IDEAL KING boasts 4 victories, the most recent under today’s pilot, Delphine Santiago.

ADELIADE is worth considering and BLUES ROCK yet another with each way claims but I’ll take a chance with KALEO PALACE for Alain Couetil at attractive odds. A son of Palace Episode, he remains comparatively lightly raced for a 7YO with only 15 starts but boasts 4 victories, including an impressive C&D success last month. From gate 15, Laura Poggionovo covered ground out wide but still had plenty in the tank to assert in the home straight. The race is working out nicely with the 3rd and 6th winning next time. I am fearful of UZEL and a few others, but at the prizes I’ll stick with KALEO PALACE, partnered once again by Laura Poggionovo and excellent value for her 3Ib claim.